Chapter 32:Maya decision
After a full night of stress and restless thoughts about the quest, Ank woke up late in the morning.
He wasn't used to waking late his body was a machine tuned for training, for pushing beyond limits, for fighting. But that night had been different. He had stayed awake, turning from side to side, replaying the details of the quest in his head. Every possibility, every outcome. The kind of mental strain that drained him more than any blade, more than any monster.
When his eyes finally opened, the sunlight was already streaming into his room. His instincts pulled him upright before his thoughts even caught up. Training first. Always training.
The first thing Ank did after waking was head to the training ground in the backyards. His body was tired from mental stress ,Arthur had implanted training in his everycell.Ank mind automatically start training in the morning .
As he practiced, he noticed something unusual ,his momentum and strength had improved very much. Every swing of his weapon was sharper, every strike steadier,every attack he did do more damage,every move he tried he became better.
When he finished, his chest rose and fell heavily, sweat dripping down from his forehead. His body felt alive, but his mind was calmer. For once, he allowed himself a small smile.
After training, Ank headed to eat his lunch. The food tasted plain, but it filled the emptiness. He had no real appetite; his mind was already elsewhere. He wanted to talk to Arthur as soon as possible.
So, after cleaning his plate, he searched the house for Arthur. Every room,every corner but he found nothing.
The man who had shaped him, who had guided him ,who made present Ank was nowhere to be found.
Frustration began to rise for Ank.
Where could he have gone without telling me? Did something happen?
Unable to find him, Ank turned to the only other person in the house Maya.
Maya had been waiting for Ank. She had rehearsed this moment in her mind countless times, but when Ank appeared in front of her, her throat tightened. Her heart beat faster than it should.
He was taller than before, his eyes sharper, his presence heavier. She had grown up seeing him as the boy who chased after impossible strength, the boy who often ignored everything else. But now, the man standing before her radiated something different—something dangerous and untouchable.
When Ank walked closer, Maya quickly gathered her courage. This is it. You cannot back down now. She reminded herself that she had little time left. Ank's departure was drawing near, and if she let this chance slip away, she would regret it for the rest of her life.
"Where is " Ank began, his tone direct, his expression serious.
But before he could even finish, Maya interrupted.
"I need to talk with you," she said quickly, forcing the words out before fear could silence her. "And it's very important."
Ank blinked, confused. His eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment she thought he would push past her.
"Before we talk," he asked, "can you tell me where your grandpa is?"
"I won't tell you," Maya answered, her voice firmer than she expected. She clenched her fists to stop them from trembling. "If I tell you now, you'll just run off again to find him. So after I talk with you, I'll tell you."
Her words hung in the air. Ank studied her, silent for a moment. He had known Maya for years, but rarely had they exchanged more than a few words. She had always been in the background quiet, dutiful, occupied with house chores or her own studies and training. Yet now, she stood before him, negotiating as if she held power over him.
Strange… She's different.
Finally, Ank nodded. "Fine. I'll do as you say."
"Let's go to the living room. We'll talk there," Maya said, her voice trembling just a little.
The living room was quiet, filled only with the faint sound of wind outside. Ank sat on a chair, his posture stiff and guarded, while Maya chose the sofa opposite him.
She drew a breath. "I want to go somewhere. And you will escort me."
Ank frowned. "Why should I escort you?"
"Because I know where Grandpa is," Maya said bluntly. "If you want to know, then escort me. If you don't, I won't tell you."
Ank stared at her, astonished. Maya, the girl he had barely spoken to, was suddenly speaking to him as if she knew exactly how to bind him. He almost laughed at the absurdity of it.
Is this really Maya? What happened to her quiet, polite self?
Still, the determination in her eyes unsettled him. It wasn't a bluff. She was serious.
"Fine," Ank said, his voice low. He nodded once.
Maya exhaled in relief. "OK. I'll get ready. Wait for me—five minutes."
Without giving him another glance, she hurried off to her room.
When she returned, Ank blinked in surprise. She wore a new dress—something she rarely did. The fabric was simple but elegant, making her look different from the Maya he was used to seeing around the house.
"Let's go," she said.
And so they did.
First, she dragged him shopping. Ank followed, his irritation growing with each passing moment. He watched Maya buying clothes , eating food from stalls and moving here and there with a kind of excitement he couldn't understand. To him, it was a waste of time and precious hours he could have spent training and one step closer to complete quests.
Then, she pulled him toward the village fair. The noise, the crowds, the laughter it all grated on Ank's nerves. Children ran past them, merchants shouted their deals, performers showed off their tricks. Maya smiled more than he had ever seen her smile. She looked alive here, surrounded by color and sound.
But Ank? He felt out of place. This isn't me. Why am I here?
And yet… he stayed. Against his will, against his irritation, he stayed.
Finally, they ended up at a fancy inn restaurant, where Maya ordered dinner. Ank sat stiffly, still confused, still questioning why he allowed himself to be dragged into this farce.
He could have waited for Arthur. He could have ignored Maya's demands. And yet, here he was.
Why? He thought in his mind.
Ank didn't know that Maya had a spell that was doing this to him.
Absolute Emergency.
[Description: This skill forces a person to do something at that very moment something they could do at any time, but cannot delay. It had to be completed immediately.]
Maya had learned this skill not for battle, not for survival, but for him. To create an opportunity. To bring him here. To understand him better.
She had already understood Ank's obsession with training because of his grandpa. She had seen how he clung to Arthur, not because of familial warmth, but because Arthur was the anchor of his growth. She had seen his loneliness, even if he never admitted it.
But courage had always failed her. Until now. With Ank's departure looming, she had no choice. She had to use the skill, no matter how selfish it felt.
And so, she did.
Hours later, when they finally returned home, Ank turned to her, his voice calm but edged with impatience.
"Now tell me. Where is old man?"
Maya's breath caught. The moment she had delayed all day was finally here.